Leeds United forward Jay-Roy Grot (11) after the full time whistle during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Leeds United at Villa Park, Birmingham, England on 13 April 2018. Picture by Alan Franklin.

Leeds United ‘reject’ earns surprise international call up

Leeds United forward Jay-Roy Grot (11) after the full time whistle during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Leeds United at Villa Park, Birmingham, England on 13 April 2018. Picture by Alan Franklin.

When he was signed and first brought to Elland Road, Leeds United fans marvelled at the sheer physique of Dutch youngster Jay-Roy Grot.

They were expecting him to simply smash through defenders, leaving them trailing in his wake like some runaway cartoon bull. It didn’t quite work out like that. Whilst looking like an Adonis hewn from granite, his initial forays as a Leeds player were more fragile.

They youngster didn’t really cut it, and some Leeds United fans certainly let him know it as the great Whites hope slid into something of a pariah. Lambasted enough, the £750,000 buy from NEC Nijmegen was shipped back to Holland on loan to VVV Venlo.

However, his form in Holland has led to an international call up for Holland’s Under-21s. Grot, after a productive preseason against lower-tier sides, has found his footing back in the game for Venlo. He’s scored two goals, and provided one assist, in 11 games and helped Venlo maintain a comfortable 5th place in the Eredivisie.

Whilst admitting “jitters” at his call-up, he has not forgotten about his current deal at Leeds United, a deal with two years left to run after this loan season. On this he said: “People will say I’ve had a lost year but that’s not how I see it. I’ve experienced and learned a lot.”

The youngster also went on to heap further praise on the Whites saying: “Leeds didn’t give me a four-year contract for nothing. They saw a future in me and they still see that. The technical director (Victor Orta, United’s director of football) has emphasised this again. At VVV I want to show myself, help the team with goals and assists, and from there return more strongly at Leeds. I want to play in the Premier League.”

A season out, re-establishing himself and regaining confidence, could be just the thing that Grot needs to return to the Elland Road fold stronger than when he left.

About Author

Cynicism turned to optimism but without the woop woops and ringing bells. Leeds United supporter through thick and thin, more thin than anything recently. Write mainly about the Whites but turn my hand to other clubs. Lover of salted crisp sandwiches. Not a hipster.